- GarageBand is a free DAW (digital audio workstation) if you have a Mac. This is a great choice for first-time and even experienced podcasters. You can easily create separate tracks for music, intros and outros, ad spots, and more. Then you can fade them in and out as needed, move them around, adjust levels, you name it.
- Oct 23, 2019 Configure Podcasts App Settings In the “Preferences” menu, you can customize how the Podcasts app works on your Mac. In the menu bar, click “Podcasts,” and then select “Preferences.” In the “General” tab, you can change the refresh rate for podcasts.
- Jan 03, 2019 Stream or download to listen to offline using the free app. If you like falling asleep to podcasts, just set Castbox's sleep timer. With CarPlay and Amazon Echo support, you can listen from.
- May 19, 2020 TuneIn Radio facilitates podcast discovery and delivery for sports, news, music, and talk with more than 100,000 radio stations and some 4 million podcasts streaming from around the.
Here are the best podcast listening apps for consuming your favorite audio shows, organizing episodes into playlists, and getting new podcast recommendations.
Podcast Player for Mac. Netflix is the world’s leading subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies. Netflix for Mac. Watch Hulu TV shows and movies on your Mac. Hulu for Mac.
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In 2002, while exploring the Radio section of iTunes, I stumbled on something that sounded like an amateur talk radio morning show. A couple of friends got together each week, recorded an hour or more of their conversation, and posted it to iTunes as The Great Radio Tiki Experiment. (The show is long gone, but archives of it are still online.) It was one of the earliest podcasts, one that started two years before the word even existed, and I was hooked. It took another decade for the medium to catch so widely that it now seems like anyone can create a successful podcast. The podcast market is now overrun with content that the only way to find shows you love, organize episodes you want to hear, and listen to them is to download a dedicated podcast app.
Having tested around 25 podcast player apps, I've picked 10 that offer a great overall experience or something unique. Among these, I have a few personal favorites. If you only listen on an iPhone and you're looking for a streamlined podcast player that isn't littered with ads and recommendations, Downcast is my top pick. For a similar experience that's cross-platform, Pocket Casts takes the cake. If you're obsessed with discovering new podcasts, newcomer Himalaya is very promising. Also consider Breaker (iOS only), which taps into your social media accounts and address book, with your permission, to connect you with friends who use the app so you can see what they play.
Common Features
Podcast Apps For Mac
Nearly all podcast apps have a few features in common. You should always be able to subscribe to a show so that new episodes appear in your podcast feed. You should be able to control how much content downloads to your device, either manually or by limiting the number of new episodes that download from each show. Some apps also let you set a limit on the amount of storage you're willing to use.
Most apps have an audio boost feature that automatically enriches human voices. Most also have a dead air trimmer that, when enabled, automatically snips out silences that are longer than a breath or two.
Any podcast app should let you create playlists, too. These are sets of shows that refresh as new episodes release. For example, I have a Morning playlist that contains four daily news shows so that I get an overview of what's happening in the world as I start my day. I have another playlist for shows I like to listen to while I cook. If organizing playlists tops your list of needs or wants, Overcast may be the best fit, as it lets you create both playlists of shows (which it calls Smart Playlists) and playlists of specific episodes, a better solution for one-off activities, such as a summer road trip.
Start Listening
Below you'll find the 10 best podcast apps, listed alphabetically, with images of the mobile apps, details on their prices, and a few words about what makes them unique or useful.
Breaker
Price: Free
Breaker is a free iOS-only podcast app with a social bent. By connecting it to Twitter, Facebook, or your contacts, you can find other people you know who use Breaker and follow them to get recommendations. You can see what shows and episodes people listen to and read comments they leave on episodes. When exploring new podcasts, you can see how many other Breaker users have subscribed to the show. The app is entirely free to download and use with no upsell. It makes money by offering podcast creators a way to sell content directly to listeners and taking a slice of the action.
Available on iOSCastbox
Price: Free; $0.99 per month for Premium
Castbox is the podcast app to use if you're interested in discovering new podcasts. Its hook is suggesting new podcasts using a unique recommendation engine. The results are quite different from the typical 'top 100' lists seen in other apps. You can use the Android, iOS, and web apps for free, as long as you don't mind seeing and hearing advertisements or being limited to 100 channel subscriptions. Premium costs $0.99 per month and gives you an ad-free experience, unlimited subscriptions, a personalized homepage, priority support, and early access to new features. Castbox is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Google Home, and Android Auto. Mac software on windows. Note that in the Apple App Store, it's listed as Podcast Player: Castbox.
Available on Android, iOS, WebCastro
Price: Free; Castro Plus $18.99 per year or $5.99 for 3 months
Castro is a free iOS podcast app that is fairly average if you use the free version. However, if you upgrade to the $18.99-per-year Castro Plus tier, you get the Sideload feature, which allows you to upload any content you want to play to the podcast player, from audiobooks to conference talks you find on the web. The rest of Castro's features are average, including a button that trims dead air from your listening experience, a voice booster setting, the ability to customize settings for each show in your feed, and a dark mode. I don't recommend the free version of this app; if you're interested in a Plus account, you can try it for a week before you need to pay.
Available on iOSDowncast
Price: $2.99 iOS, $4.99 macOS
Downcast is among the best podcast apps for iPhones and Macs. It also works with Apple Watch and CarPlay. You pay once for the apps and own them forever with no subscription fees. It's easy to subscribe to podcasts, whether you browse or search for them or add them via a URL feed. Rich settings let you automatically start your favorite shows a set number of seconds in, or end them early, letting you bypass lengthy intros or closing ads. There's a great list view of shows that you've either subscribed to or downloaded that gives you details such as how many episodes are in your queue, when the most recent episode debuted, and an icon indicating if you are not subscribed to automatically download the next release. If you're an Apple-only user and don't need a web app, Downcast is one of the best podcast apps for you.
Available on iOS, macOSHimalaya
Price: Free
A newcomer to the podcast arena in 2019, Himalaya is both a podcast player app and a service for podcast creators. Setting aside the creator arm for a moment, the podcast player is free, and you can get it on Android, iOS, and the web. The app recommends shows left, right, and sideways. It suggests playlists for different times, such as your morning routine or getting through the midday slump. It recommends shows you might like when you play an episode of a show. Even when searching and exploring for podcasts, Himalaya's categorization has impressive depth. Topics are as specific as aviation (219 shows), Hinduism (318), and language courses (2,274). If you're interested in learning more about the app for creators, see Himalaya's creator page.
Available on Android, iOS, WebLuminary
Price: Free; $7.99 per month for Premium
Luminary launched in early 2019 with a beautifully signed podcast catcher and player app, plus a controversial battle cry to eliminate ads from podcasts. Its pitch: For a $7.99 per month fee (hefty in the podcasting world), you'll get access to all its original programs once they debut, as many are not yet public as of this writing. About 40 shows are scheduled to appear this year, including Hear to Slay with Roxane Gay and Tressie McMillan Cottom and The Axe Files with David Axelrod (I'm curious who insisted on that groan-worthy pun). The hitch for Luminary is that a few podcast networks are withholding key shows from Luminary's platform, including The Daily by The New York Times and Reply All from Gimlet Media.
Available on Android, iOS, WebPodcast Streaming App For Mac Download
Overcast
Price: Free; $9.99 per year for Premium
Podcast App For Macbook
Overcast is an iOS-only app with a few unique features, the standout one being clip sharing. With clip sharing, you can tell someone about a podcast you love by sending them an audio or video clip of it up to one minute long. I also like that you can create playlists of podcast shows so that each new episode appears in the list (called Smart Playlist) or a playlist of specific episodes you want to hear. The free version of the app contains ads and has such significant feature limitations that I don't recommend using the app unless you're willing to pay $9.99 per year for Premium. Sadly, Overcast doesn't give you a trial period for the upgrade either. The app is also compatible with Apple Watch.
Available on iOSPocket Casts
Price: Free; $0.99 per month, $10 per year for Plus
One of the most loved podcast player apps, Pocket Casts, is now free for Android and iOS. This app has a tidy interface and great features. It's easy to see what's in your subscription list as well as which episodes you've started, but haven't finished. It has 0.1 increments for increasing or decreasing the audio speed, so you can gently adjust the pace. You can also connect it to Amazon Alexa to play podcasts through an Echo speaker. Pocket Casts used to cost about $4 to download the mobile app and another $9 for desktop apps, but now anyone can use the mobile apps for free. If you previously purchased the mobile apps, you won't experience any changes, and anyone who bought the desktop apps will get lifetime access to Plus for free. For new subscribers, Plus membership adds access to the desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and web; cloud storage for creators and listeners who want to use the app for hosting audio and video files; and exclusive app icons and themes.
Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Web, WindowsStitcher
Price: Free; Premium from $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year
Not only is Stitcher a podcast app, it's also a podcast network. Some of the hit shows on its roster include Freakonomics Radio and Levar Burton Reads. It keeps some of its content reserved for Premium members only, like Maria Bamford: 20%. Stitcher doesn't have the most robust feature set or settings for playing podcast episodes, but you can listen nearly everywhere using the apps for Android and iOS, as well as a web player. You can also play Stitcher content on an Amazon Alexa device, as well as in cars using CarPlay, Android Auto, or directly from a smart audio system. A Premium membership costs $4.99 per month or $34.99 for a year.
Available on Android, iOS, WebSpotify
Price: Free; Premium from $9.99 per month
In addition to being one of the best music streaming services, Spotify is also a podcast player. When you use Spotify to organize and listen to podcasts, your podcast activity lives a dedicated area, separate from your music. It doesn't have nearly as many settings and controls as a more traditional podcast catcher app, but if you're already paying for Spotify Premium, then it still may be worth using for listening to podcasts. A Premium account, starting at $9.99 per month, eliminates the limitations and in-app ads, though it doesn't do anything about ads that are included in episodes.
Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, webBeyond Podcast Apps
For podcast recommendations, check out our roundup of the best podcasts. We put together a list of our staff's favorite shows across eight different categories, such as Comedy, Informative, and News & Politics.
If you're thinking about creating your own podcast, you might want to read our reviews of the best USB microphones to make sure you get the best possible sound.
If you're thinking about creating your own podcast, you might want to read our reviews of the best USB microphones to make sure you get the best possible sound.
With iTunes breaking out into dedicated apps in macOS Catalina, Mac is getting its very own Podcasts app. In this app, you'll subscribe to, search for, and manage your podcast library. If you're familiar with the iOS Podcasts app, you'll likely be pretty familiar with the interface, but if you're completely new to the app, here's a handy step-by-step guide to get you started!
How to play a podcast in the Podcasts app
Playing a podcast, whether you already have it downloaded, or are just browsing new ones, is just a click away.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Click on the podcast photo of the podcast you want to hear.
It doesn't matter what tab you're in, whether you're browsing for a new podcast, or you're you want to listen to the last podcast you started, anytime you click on a podcast the app will play that podcast for you.
How to search for a podcast in the Podcasts app
Heard about a new podcast you want to check out? Search for using the sidebar.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Click search bar in the sidebar.
- Enter your search term.
- Hit Enter/Return on your keyboard.
Here you'll see all the options for shows and episodes that relate to your search term.
How to search for a podcast in your library the Podcasts app
If you're looking for a podcast or an episode from a podcast that's in your library, you can search your library any time in the Podcasts app.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Click search bar in the sidebar.
- Click the Your Library tab.
- Enter your search term.
- Hit Enter/Return on your keyboard.
How to subscribe to a podcast in the Podcasts app
Subscribing to a podcast will automatically put that podcast in your library, meaning you can see when new episodes are released, and always listen to the newest episodes.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast you want to subscribe to.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It represented by three dots.
- Click Subscribe.
How to unsubscribe to a podcast in the Podcasts app
If you no longer want to be subscribed to a podcast, you can unsubscribe from a podcast at any time. Unsubscribing will not remove it from your library but will prevent new episodes from automatically be added to your library.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast you wish to unsubscribe in your library.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It's represented by three dots.
- Click unsubscribe.
How to delete a podcast from your library in the Podcasts app
If you want to delete a podcast and all the associated episodes from your library, you can do so at any time.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast you want to delete in your library.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It's represented by three dots.
- Click Delete from library.
How to play a podcasts next in queue in the Podcasts app
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast episode you want to play next in your library.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It's represented by three dots.
- Click Play Next.
How to view the top charts in the Podcasts app
If you want to know what's hot and trending in the podcasts world, you can find it all in the podcasts app.
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Click Top Charts in the sidebar.
Here you'll see the top shows and top episodes of podcasts that are being listened to by other Podcasts users.
How to share a podcast in the Podcasts app
If you want to send a podcast to a friend via messages, email, AirDrop, Notes, or another method, you can do so with any show!
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast you want to share.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It's represented by three dots.
- Click Share Show or Share Episode.
- Click the sharing method you want.
From here, depending on which method you chose, you'll need to put in some additional information. It's different for each method, so follow the appropriate prompts to share your podcast.
How to change the order episodes get played in the Podcasts app
- Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder.
- Find the podcast you don't want notifications from in your library.
- Hover over the podcast photo until the play and options buttons appear.
- Click the options button. It looks like three dots.
- Click Settings
- Click the option you want for your episodes. Your choices are as follows:
- Play in Sequential Order
- Play Most Recent First
- Only Keep the Most Recent Episodes
- Custom Settings
Updated September 2019: Updated for macOS Catalina release.
Any questions
Do you have any other questions about the Podcasts app? Let us know in the comments down below.
Podcasts On Mac
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